A former plumber who heard a constituent describe laying tarmac in 'unbearable' heat is to introduce a bill that would force the government to set a maximum workplace temperature for the first time. Hannah Spencer, elected as the Green MP for Gorton and Denton in February, said it was 'absurd' that the UK had guidance on minimum temperatures but nothing for maximums, despite heatwaves intensifying. 'We've seen absolute chaos as a result of these recent temperatures, and such a massive human cost, yet we haven't heard a peep from government about how they plan to protect us all,' she said.
The legislation would create an independent body to recommend maximum safe workplace temperatures and spell out how employers should implement them. Unions including Unison and the Trade Union Congress have already called for a limit of 30C indoors, or 27C for strenuous work. Spencer highlighted bus and train drivers 'sweltering in cabins that are hotter than the soaring temperatures outside', bakers working in over 40C, and builders with no respite from the heat.
“Green MP Hannah Spencer introduces bill to create maximum workplace temperature after heatwaves cause 'absolute chaos'.”
The Health and Safety Executive has resisted such a move, arguing that excessive heat can be caused by workplace activity – for instance, ovens in a bakery – rather than the weather. Currently there is no legal minimum temperature, though the HSE's code of practice says it should be 16C (or 13C for strenuous work).
Despite that opposition, Spencer's bill is expected to attract cross-party support, including from the Labour leftwing MPs Rebecca Long-Bailey, Alex Sobel and Nadia Whittome, the SNP's Graham Leadbitter, Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts and the independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. She urged the government to follow countries such as Spain, where maximum temperatures depend on the type of work and workers can shift hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day. 'This is something workers and trade unions have been raising the alarm about for many years,' she said. 'It shouldn't have taken this long to act, but the unsafe temperatures we're seeing now should be a huge wake-up call.'
